Tuesday, January 16, 1945

No one to show my Red Cross stuff to in London Monday, so I'm to write the whole story and will send it on. Was most amused to get a clipping from the Columbus Dispatch from Dad which had been taken from a letter I wrote Helen C. Seems everyone in town read it. I particularly laughed over the part where I fell asleep in the Allied Officers' Club lounge...I much prefer to edit my material when it's going to newspapers! The picture of Jeanne and me accompanied it. Letters from Durham, Johnny, Faye, Lou G., and a luscious package of glamor from Maria.

The radio program today was "A Big Bowl of Crepes Suzettes" with Jimmy Livingston playing Gershwin, and Lt Joe Snyder from Flora Ill. singing divinely. He sang with the St. Louis Municipal Opera. Jimmie talked to me for about four hours PM and evening about his army and musical history - and how he cracked up under 88's. trench mortars, and much gun fire near Aachen. Bless him - I hope we can keep him here with our band - plans are on foot. Had a rousing Bingo Evening - new patients. Capt E. and I talked until midnight in the club. Ham Greene called me from London during inspection!

WASHINGTON, DEC 9 - (Special to the Dispatch) - A former Columbus girl, Miss Virginia Cooley, now serving with the Red Cross in an Army hospital in England, writes Washington relatives of her attempts to cheer the wounded men and to keep them busy at handicrafts. She's getting ready for the hospital Christmas celebration now.

She is the daughter of W.V. Cooley of Galena, Ohio, and the sister of Col. Kenton Parkes Cooley, formerly stationed at Fort Hayes barracks, now on duty with the infantry in Washington. Miss Cooley was formerly employed as interviewer with the Ohio State Unemployment Service in Columbus and is a graduate of Ohio State University.

"Christmas is the big thing," she writes. "We're cutting cans into stars, saving plexi-glass shavings for snow, making cardboard canes, collecting cellophane from cigarets, etc. The men are so wonderful at helping and of course, it's occupational therapy in a way.

"I gave two or three dozen birthday parties in the wards last month, serving cake, but most of all I like to give them felt fur slippers, and teach them to make things like belts and teddy bears."

Continuing, she tells of the life of a Red Cross worker in England now.

"This has been a typical evening. Worked in the wards delivering books and stationery today. It's been misting and drizzling cold rain all day. I can now take it like a proper English woman. Went to town, dozed from sheer fatigue before the fire at the Allied Officers' Club (British), had dinner with some people at the Red Cross Officers' Club, including a colonel from our neighboring hospital who is doing marvelous plastic surgery there. I was at their dance last night, and had a delightful time. Their club is much more luxurious than ours, since our hospital was only set up last May, and still is undergoing some growing pains.

"Tomorrow morning I'm going on a three-day leave. Shall visit Cardiff, which is said to be a most lively and attractive city. I have so little time away from here I feel I should see as much as possible. I have "attended" on several afternoon tours to nearby places of interest, such as Marlborough College, Gloucester, Broadway, visited cloisters and cathedrals, eaten crumpets, etc., but actually what I need is a good sleep in a private room. We are most congenial but the life of a goldfish has its drawbacks. I am very tired and have to get up at 6:30 tomorrow. These trains are an experience!"

(Photo: Miss Virginia Cooley, now serving with the Red Cross in England, is shown prior to her departure for overseas, with her niece, Mrs. Horace Greeley, of Washington, D.C., both formerly of Columbus. Mrs. Greeley, daughter of Col. and Mrs. Kenton Parkes Cooley of Washington has not seen her husband, Maj. Greeley, formerly of Columbus, for four years. He is a prisoner in the Philippines.)